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* Sorry, Tribune editorial board. Not happening…
*** UPDATE *** Politico this morning…
The real power move happened earlier this week on the Democratic side of the House. Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch won the majority of votes among Black caucus members to join the House leadership team.
That puts him in a powerful position if things really go south for Madigan. Welch, like 21 of 22 members of the Black Caucus, remains loyal to Madigan and wouldn’t likely run for speaker unless he is out of the race. But if Madigan does make an exit, the calculation changes.
For now, all eyes remain on Madigan and his ninja-like powers to outmaneuver opponents. Madigan doesn’t have 60 votes but he knows no one else does either. There’s widespread speculation that he will broker a deal with some of his 19 Democrats critics, agreeing to step down in two years. He could then direct the remap and exit on his own terms (depending on how much the ComEd scandal continues to spiral). Such a scenario would allow the reformers to say they helped bring down his reign.
Then there will be a new battle for the speakership, with Welch, House Majority Leader Greg Harris, and Reps. Stephanie Kifowit, Jay Hoffman, Jehan Gordon-Booth and Kelly Cassidy lining up for a shot at the gavel.
That rumor about two more years for Madigan has been circulating for more than a month. But she’s not wrong about Welch.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:28 pm
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Grant Wehrli… won’t see him no more.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:30 pm
Furthering the political divide…Its A Bold Strategy Cotton, Lets See If It Pays Off For Em
Comment by The Dude Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:34 pm
What was Wehrli bird smoking this morning?
Comment by Wondering Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:34 pm
Doesn’t Wehrli have other things to do.., like clean out offices?
To the post,
The Dems sit at 72 (less MJM). They ain’t letting any of those caucus members side with Raunerites like a Wehrli… who is gone, by the way, when those 72/73 will find 60 to get a Speaker.
Wehrli wasted day after day going after Mautino, talking like Rush Limbaugh, being angry and pouty… go away already, you lost.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:34 pm
You can’t say “we will do whatever it takes to get rid of Madigan” and then immediately stumble at the first hurdle.
Rep. Chesney helping the 13th ward committee here
Comment by Rainmaker Bones Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:38 pm
Wehrli- lazy and unable to raise money = packing his leadership office in December.
Comment by Naperville GOP Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 4:56 pm
Things we won’t miss…Grant Wehrli’s infinite arrogance
Comment by Gary Hart Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:00 pm
I always thought this was the best way for Durkin to take down MJM as Speaker, if that’s really what he wants to do as opposed to inflicting political damage on House Dems at the expense of holding up really important priorities that require addressing next year. There’s definitely a bipartisan approach that finds a new Speaker that’ll agree to some basic rules which allow the House Republicans to rack up some legislative process “wins” as well.
Comment by Veil of Ignorance Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:01 pm
@Gary Hart - Grant Wehrli angered Democrats with his rhetoric and angered members of his own party. He is the Republican Scott Drury. Good riddance.
Comment by Burnt Band-Aid Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:20 pm
The 19 cannot vote for an anti-choice, anti-gay rights, anti-gun control, anti-minority Republican.
There are not 44 Republicans who can vote for a pro-Choice, pro-gay rights, pro-gun safety, pro-diversity Democrat.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:23 pm
Never been harder to be a spoiled rich kid.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:24 pm
Sorry, Rep. Wehrli. The future leadership in the House is in the hands of legislators who actually WON their elections…
Comment by Sprinkles are for Winners Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:27 pm
Madigan must just periodically look up from his desk and laugh hysterically at the thought that his chief rival is Jim Durkin and Grant Wehrli was one of his top lieutenants.
Comment by Trim the Fat Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:39 pm
How about another observation.
Rep Wehrli is on Durkin’s leadership team. Rep Chesney is aligned with the Eastern Block. There was an attempted coup. Now we see an Eastern Block member light up a member of Durkin’s Leadership Team publicly. Could also be a shot to Durkin not to engage in any negotiations?
Something tells me not all is well in the HGOP.
As to the post, there is probably little chance of a Democrat aligning with the Republicans to get elected Speaker. But Rep. Chesney is still a little new and can’t get over his fireball antics. As the severe minority party, they should jump at the chance to help elect a Democrat Speaker of the House. For no other reason than to cause chaos in the Democratic Caucus.
Comment by Nagidam Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:46 pm
As a Democrat, I have to say this is a horrible idea. Why would the House Democrats want to give up a super majority to share power with Republicans? There is no upside to this. The people have chosen a Democrat majority in the House. Why give them anything else? Leave it to a Republican like Grant Wehrli to push a terrible idea like this.
Comment by Stuck in the 60s Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:48 pm
At least he’ll have time to show up to committee. The only problem is that he won’t be on any!
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:51 pm
@Yellow Dog makes a really good point.
This is not your father’s General Assembly. The ideological polarization of the parties makes crossing the aisle much more unlikely now than it was in Bill Redmond’s day.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 5:59 pm
But is it also why “MJM ain’t going anywhere?”
Comment by walker Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 6:02 pm
Grant Wehrli will stay relevant as long as people keep feeding the trolls.
So big question which raunerite is next to be the Twitter warrior vs the House Dems?
Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 6:04 pm
@Nayidam - To be fair, Wehrli is yesterday’s news. To say that there is turmoil in the GOP ranks in the context of what a has been like Wehrli has to say is not fair. Wehrli represents the past. The future is with rising stars like Andrew Chesney who know how to win elections - something Grant Wehrli failed to do.
Comment by Springfield Follies Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 6:14 pm
@Frank talks - You are implying that Grant Wehrli was ever relevant. “I am going to support this legislation because Grant Wehrli supports it,” said no one ever.
Comment by Love that Chicken Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 6:20 pm
Let’s not think Chesney is all that better than Wehrli.
Right now, winning this last election is the difference to what these two are thinking, it appears.
The idea Wehrli is at all smart to politics, and Chesney is smarter to the politics, when both are quite irrelevant to the Speaker discussion makes me laugh on the inside.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 6:30 pm
Friendly tip: if you genuinely and sincerely want to work with Democrats to change the Illinois House, you might want to refer to it as the new Democratic Speaker.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 7:11 pm
Wehrli is a Twitter troll devoid of any real substance. On this, most can agree. But Chesney’s attitude of “never, under any circumstance” vote for a Democrat as speaker sure is a far cry from the days when the entire GOP caucus - every, single one - in GA after GA voted for Madigan as Speaker as part of the acclimation vote. Polarized, indeed. It’s sad, and dangerous, that this attitude exists.
Comment by John Deere Green Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 7:31 pm
@Springfield Follies
===@Nayidam - To be fair, Wehrli is yesterday’s news. To say that there is turmoil in the GOP ranks in the context of what a has been like Wehrli has to say is not fair. Wehrli represents the past. The future is with rising stars like Andrew Chesney who know how to win elections - something Grant Wehrli failed to do.===
My post really had nothing to do with Rep. Wehrli other than mention he was in leadership. The point is simple, if you have a united caucus you would never have a new member publicly attack someone in leadership. And if you think Chesney is a ‘Rising Star’ he failed his first splash. One, you don’t air your dirty laundry for the world to see. Two, he put an arrow back in his quiver as it relates to the Speakers race. Clearly the Tribune editorial discussing Republicans being part of the Speaker discussion is taking up space in the Democratic Caucus members heads. Why take that off the table?
Comment by Nagidam Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 8:08 pm
@Veil of Ignorance- pro tip always add an /s to comments when you are making a joke like GOP wins. Lol
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 8:10 pm
Assuming Madigan is not Speaker, I’m sure Durkin & Co. plan to begin demonizing the new Speaker as soon as that person rises to the top. That would not work well if they were the folks whose votes put the new Speaker in place.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 8:54 pm
Wehrli is the rare breed that has managed to be hated by both Democrats and Republicans. He also was the messenger for Bruce Rauner and Durkin’s right hand proving that it is possible to loath both the message and the messenger. He undoubtedly will try to make a comeback in 2022 which means he will get a chance to lose another election which is something we can all look forward to.
Comment by 2020 Vision Thursday, Dec 17, 20 @ 9:30 pm
Cheney cannot and should not speak for the GOP. That kind of hyperbole is exactly why the GOP a is in the super minority. The idea that the GOP could actually shake up the Dem leadership by offering a compromise, change some of the horrid House Rules along the way and get a committee chairmanship or three based on their percentage of members is interesting. Wheeling is obviously NOT a the guy to make any type of any statement as a losing candidate. The idea is interesting though …if Illinois could become truly bipartisan and retire the Speaker along with the current Rules which allow one person rule, the uproar would be worth it. If eastern block doesn’t like the idea, all the better.
Comment by Elliott Ness Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 7:12 am
No better example of “type out your words, then sleep on them before posting” than these two quips from Cheeseny and Wehrli.
Comment by Inverted Pyramid Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 7:13 am
=== Rules which allow one person rule===
Really? Which rules?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 7:37 am
Coming back to this, but I thought the original idea Wehrli proposed did say “Democrat Speaker?” Somebody earlier seemed to imply that he was suggesting that the House Dems vote for a GOP speaker, which isn’t the idea being proposed. @JS Mill: I’m not sure I completely follow, but I only used quotes because some wouldn’t consider concessions to the minority party on procedural things (e.g. how the House conducts session, notice/info in advance on stuff) an actual win, but could make a real difference to House GOP members’ (and their staff’s) everyday experience.
Comment by Veil of Ignorance Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 8:52 am
Remember, the rest of the Dem caucus members don’t need all 19 to get on board with a candidate for Speaker (whoever it is). They only need to break off 7 of them.
Comment by Siriusly Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 8:53 am
The rule that allows all committee’s members to be appointed by the majority leader and serve at his will. The unanimous consent rule to get a bill to the House floor, the rules that funnel all bills through the Rules Committee completely controlled by the Speaker. How about starting with a rule that allows a bill to be discharged from Rules with a majority of House sponsors signing on? The House Rules are written to allow majority rule, that is what elections are about. Those rules should not allow ONE PERSON a rule and they currently do just that. These are just a couple of the dictatorial rules…there are more. Point is that if a deal can eliminate this type of one person control then it might be worth making.
Comment by Elliott Ness Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 8:59 am
Scenario: Two more years of Madigan as he fights the governor on the remap proposal and pushes a tax increase. A Republican wins in 2022 on a pure anti-Madigan platform. Madigan says he needs to stick around in order to fight their agenda.
Stay strong, 19. Madigan’s power is based on making members feel useless. “They have the votes to stop me but not the votes to replace me” is a way to demoralize opposition…it’s not a strategy for ILDems to have a successful future.
Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 9:42 am
**They only need to break off 7 of them.**
Sure… and name who those 7 would be.
Comment by SaulGoodman Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 9:54 am
If there’s a deadlock on electing a Speaker, then I think it would make sense for Republicans to offer limited cooperation in return for repeal of the Madigan-Daniels-Pate rules and for a couple of committee chairmanships. The GOP has been calling for Madigan to go for years. Here is their chance to help pave the way.
Comment by anon2 Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 10:25 am
==The future is with rising stars like Andrew Chesney who know how to win elections==
lol, yeah, that Chesney really has some competitive races up there in RD 89. One whole contested primary he’s won. What a tactician. Last time that district voted for a Democrat? I’m sure you’ll get back to us very soon.
People like Chesney are why the country is a hot mess and so polarized. “This is why Republicans continue to lose ground,” he said. Those who want to “cut deals” with those “who don’t believe in our platform, don’t have our values…” In other words, purity tests. Our way or the highway. No compromise. Out with the Bob Michels and in with the Newt Gingriches.
This guy seems to think compromise means sacrificing your principles. How sad, and scary. In a compromise, the other side gives ground, too, mope. If this guy thinks running to the right in Illinois and trying to force the majority into some kind of submission is how the GOP returns to power, then he’s dopier than he lets on. He may be a back-benching state rep from RD 89 for as long as he wants, what with his skill in winning elections and all… But his party will never see the majority again with that philosophy.
Comment by John Deere Green Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 1:21 pm
I don’t really have a strong opinion on what should happen here, but I do think House Dems may be underestimating just how wounded MJM will be politically and what the impact will be for a large number of electeds, including the Governor.
Comment by Veil of Ignorance Friday, Dec 18, 20 @ 4:04 pm